The Canadian Museum of Nature, which originally opened to the public in 1912, embarked on an extensive process of renewal which included the restoration and renovation of its exhibits in the historic Victoria Memorial Museum Building in Ottawa.

As part of this project Magian was contracted to work with Museum staff to develop a comprehensive technical architecture that would allow multimedia technologies to be incorporated into each of the restored galleries in several phases over the following years. The first three galleries – Fossils, Mammals and Birds – opened in early 2007 and were to be completed by 2011.

Magian designed and established standards for the Museum's exhibition technology architecture in order to facilitate the effective and efficient development of displays and public programs, into the future. Magian developed a range of solutions and planned for the latest technologies, including fibre optics, to ensure optimum presentation quality, reliability, updatability, multi-channel audio delivery and maintenance efficiency for the range of multimedia programs throughout the Museum.

Working closely with the in-house teams at the Museum, Magian designed and produced all of the media programs for the Canadian Mammals Gallery.

Magian's work includes bi-lingual touchscreen programs installed beside exquisitely restored dioramas of mammals in Canadian habitats as well as large screen display programs and soundscapes. The Magian MMaP System has been used as the basis for all of the media programs and soundscapes.

MMaPS also automates the delivery of web-ready versions of all multimedia interactive games directly to the Canadian Museum of Nature's website.

Education staff use handheld PDAs (recently converted by Magian to Apple iPads) communicating via a wireless network, to take control of any multimedia touchscreens in the Gallery. Staff are able to provide Museum visitors with lively and responsive guided tours, using content drawn from the media database and the multimedia templated system within the Magian MMaPS Content Manager System.

Magian's Scope

• media design and production
• development of on-screen interactive games
• integration of interactive games to client's website
• bi-lingual content in all multimedia programs
• updateable 42" touchscreen programs
• theatre style large screen programs
• dynamic soundscapes
• technical infrastructure design
• technical infrastructure implementation
• staff in-gallery hand-held control of media programs
• on-site implementation and commissioning of all works)

Project:

Canadian Mammals Gallery
Canadian Museum of Nature

Location

Ottawa, Canada